Collins delighted with City victory
LADIES SOCCER
Daire Walsh
Cork City manager Rónán Collins hailed the character of side after they got their Women’s National League campaign up and running with a thrilling 4-3 victory against Bohemians in Coolock last Saturday.
While Lauren Egbuloniu and Christina Dring goals had put City in a comfortable position at the break, their north Dublin counterparts subsequently levelled matters with quick-fire goals on the resumption. However, a Laura Shine double put the Leesiders back in the ascendancy before Alannah Maxwell bagged a late consolation for Bohs.
“That’s the real positive to take from it. It was a really good reaction from the girls. It maybe took us another while to settle as well. The Bohs pressure was really good, but when we did settle I think we started creating chances,” Collins said.
“I thought Sophie Liston had a really positive impact that second half. She started getting in behind and turning. We needed that energy as the game went on.”
This was a game that helped to showcase the young talent that is currently progressing through the ranks of Cork City.
A Republic of Ireland U17 international, Shine was introduced in the 72nd minute of the action and proceeded to terrorise the Bohs defence.
Team skipper Maria O’Sullivan is one of three City players – Zara Foley and Eabha O’Mahony being the others – to have featured for the Irish U19s in 2020 and the precocious netminder came to her to the rescue of City with a series of top-drawer saves.
“Laura has done really well. She has done really well in training during the week. I actually think Lauren did really well in the first place, but I think we kind of knew we had both of them to gamble with in the match. She came on and she was only a whisker away from getting her first senior hat-trick on the same day she gets her senior debut goal,” Collins said.
“In the first half Bohs created a great little chance up by a throw-in and she [O’Sullivan] pulled off a brilliant save. We know Maria has that and it’s really good that she’s bringing that to her locker. We know there’s even more to come in her game beyond this.”
Following a succession of postponements in recent weeks, Collins and the Cork squad will now be facing into a hectic schedule – beginning with an away trip to Munster rivals Treaty United this evening.
“I think it’s three games in 15 days after no game for 21 days! We’ll have a few kilometres in the legs after that,” Collins concluded.